Welcome to Real Life Style Blog!

Can changing your wardrobe really change your life? Of course it can! Imagine how light and powerful you would feel if 100% of the clothes in your closet were the right clothes for you right now. Imagine that your wardrobe reflected both your personality and your personal style, while suiting your lifestyle. That, ladies and gentlemen, is called Real Life Style. Want to be able to look and feel put together in just 2 minutes a day? You can.

Click here for more information about how you can work with Lani and click here to schedule your free consultation. Because fashion should be an outlet for fun, not frustration!

Thursday, October 9, 2014

I recently read an article in Elle Magazine which highlighted the favorite fashion items of different celebrities. Natasha Lyonne waxed on about her beloved black Helmut Lang blazer, which she had unfortunately lost during a whirlwind day of dress fittings. My first thought when reading about her "perfect" blazer? My "perfect" scarf! My long lost scarf! I bought a cream-colored, fringed scarf about 3 years ago. I then proceeded to wear it perhaps one third of all days in the year following until...I lost it.

Why was this scarf perfect? It was summer, yet it was also so fall and spring...It was voluminous enough to cover what I needed to cover through a pregnancy and post-pregnancy, yet folded down into nothing. My scarf turned from a fashion scarf into a nursing cover lickety-split, and was cool enough to wear in the summer yet actually kept me warm when it turned cool in the evening. Did I mention it also matched EVERYTHING? And then one day I went to grab it from my closet...and it was gone. Just gone. I had no recollection of losing it or exactly when I had last used it except that it had been a clutch piece on our trip to Chicago a few weeks before.

So how is my beloved scarf pictured below with my new starry night J. Crew shirt and my fave gold boots from Cole Haan? Where was it for the past 2 YEARS???? Apparently my sister was under some insane impression that I had let her borrow it. WAS SHE NUTS? How could she think I would let her borrow my favorite, irreplaceable scarf? She had been asking for some help in her closet for many months. I was too busy of course. When I finally came over last week, I accidentally found my scarf hanging neatly on a hook in the back of her closet, where I am guessing it has been for 2 YEARS.

Friday, October 3, 2014

Have you heard? There is a new pant silhouette in town and it is here to stay. You probably have not heard of the new term ath-leisure. This is what fashion industry folks call the trend of active-wear as every-day wear. The takeover is now complete with the "jogger", the only pant you need to update your fall wardrobe. My fave styles? I like the Athleta City Jogger for work-out to day-out and the J. Crew Drapey Wool Sweatpant for looking chic at Sunday brunch or on the sidelines at your child's soccer game. What to wear on your feet? Ankle boots or the new slip-on sneaker.

P.S. Order at least one size down for the J. Crew pants and one size down for the Athleta.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

September 23rd marked the official first day of fall. Now that the temperature is dipping below 60 degrees, it is time to start turning over our closets for the season. Of course, as many DC residents know, the weather is ever changing here. It's not unusual to have an 80 degree weekend in the middle of October! So how do you know what to put away until next spring and what to keep around a little longer? Let RLS guide you through the process!

Linen

Can one leave certain items in their closet longer in DC than places like New York and Boston? Yes. The weather justifies leaving what I like to call "transitional" pieces in the wardrobe longer if not all season. However, to be clear, linen is not a transitional item. Linen goes away after Labor Day! The only exception? A 90 degree day in September. Otherwise, linen will cause you to look out of place and seasonally-challenged. I usually have to cajole my husband to put away the linen in early October, but after over 4 years of marriage, this year he actually did it himself the second week of September.

Shorts

What is it about men in DC and their shorts? Take a quick drive down M Street in Georgetown and you're bound to see a boy that looks like the one in this picture, even in 65 degree October! You may want to keep one or two pairs of shorts in the drawer after Labor day, but try to reserve them for a sunny, 80 degree Saturday. This means you too, Mr. Real Life Style!

Sandals

Once September hits, there is an awkward period of time when you are not sure if you should be wearing sandals or boots. In my opinion, sandals are okay in DC throughout September, but only keep out one or two of your best pairs. However, on a particularly chilly morning, your ankle booties may be a better choice. Other stellar fall shoe options include smoking loafers and fashion sneakers.

Down Coats

65 degrees is NOT an appropriate temperature for a down coat! Use the fall weather to take advantage of much more fashionable options. How about a leather jacket or a bomber? Layer appropriately and you will be warm AND fashionable.

Sweaters

It's nearing the end of September and I can officially say that I have started pulling out the heavier knits from my winter stash. Knit sweaters are especially in style this fall, as seen on the runways of Stella McCartney and Michael Kors.

Sleeveless Blouses

Yes, your gorgeous sleeveless blouses can be worn year round. But be sure to add a chic layer on top such as a cardigan, blazer or leather jacket.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Most fashion editors and journalists may have an iPhone and iPad on them at all times, but they aren't usually invited to Apple's launch events. This year was different. The first hint that something fashionable was brewing at Apple came when the company hired Angela Ahrendts, former CEO of Burberry, as well as Paul Deneve, former CEO of Yves Saint Laurent. After that the Apple watch was pretty much the worst kept secret in fashion and technology put together.

The launch of three distinct collections – Apple Watch, Sport and Apple Watch Edition – mimicked the tiered distribution strategy of major fashion brands, with each collection aimed at a different demographic. The Apple Watch Edition is clearly targeted towards the flashy fashionista type. Can't you just see Kanye West flashing the most expensive version in his next music video?

As Vogue put it, "Ironically, it was the mass adoption of the habit of carrying cell phones that almost threatened to make the wearing of watches seem obsolete. All functionality aside, the Apple Watch is being launched as a personalizable object of beauty—a thing aimed to go straight to the centers of the brain where our lust for luxury and showing off reside."

As someone who never stopped wearing a watch, (and is need of a new one, hint hint husband...), I am especially excited about the fashion component of the watch. Who remembers the iPod Nano watch? Basically, Apple just made a black rubber watch-type band to hold the Nano, and added watch faces to it. I did receive the most compliments on it from fashion types as it looked like a futuristic cell-phone watch. Unfortunately, the menu button on the Nano broke after a bit and now I can't use the watch part unless I purchase a new Nano. An expensive but fun toy was the verdict. And I'm more than a bit annoyed at its short life span. Other smart watches have not delivered on their promises and are still seen as more of a gimmick than a true necessity.

But this...this is different. 18K gold? Leather straps? Multiple choices from the watch to the bands? This is not a futuristic toy. The future is here and it is fashionable! And practical. The underside is fitted with four lenses which monitor bodily functions for health- and fitness-tracking programs. The watch is also able to make credit card payments and open emails. You can also choose between a myriad of watch "face" options. $349, the price of a basic model, is not bad for a watch that gives you many looks at the touch of the screen, much less checks your email!

My current verdict? Buy it. What do others in fashion have to say about it?

“What the Swiss did was marry quality and craftsmanship with precision time-telling. If we’re looking for those qualities in the digital era, that’s what the Apple watch is about," said Joe Zee, Editor-in-Chief of Yahoo Style. “I didn't think I was going to wear it pre-announcement, and now, absolutely, I like the practicality of it. I’m also a tech geek at heart, so for that reason alone, I would wear it.”

"I think it's going to be huge," said Joanna Coles, Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief, who hopes Apple will release a diamond version. "People can find out about themselves. They think it will tell them something about themselves, they're going to love it."

Bonus: Scarf Guy

My favorite part of the whole thing? Scarf guy of course! A man in an infinity scarf, with a desperate need for a makeover. Were they baiting all those invited fashion editors just to get more press? I think so.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

What is your most important purchase for Fall 2014, you ask? A new coat! Every so many years the silhouette of coats goes ALL the way the OTHER way. That time is now! Coats are BIG and BRIGHT. So pick up your credit card and start shopping.

Quick note about the lack of a blog last week for my loyal readers. As noted in previous posts, we are hard at work over here at RLS on a new blog and website. We did not put a blog up because the new site was about to go live and we didn't want any snafus when we sent out the blog. And then guess what happened? A big snafu! So, no new website quite yet. To make up for it, our Fall 2014 Outerwear Guide is very comprehensive!

Thanks for your patience peeps and we promise you something new and fabulous very soon. If you think you can't wait, imagine how we feel!

Lani Inlander

About Me

Lani Inlander has been helping clients look and feel their best for 15 years. Her fashion expertise has been featured in In Style, New York Magazine, The Washington Post and Washingtonian, among other publications. She has also styled segments for major television programs, including Oprah Winfrey and The View. Lani is deeply passionate about what she does: empowering clients through fashion, and helping them find clothing and accessories that fit their figures, suit their style, and boost their confidence.